Order, consequently, is maintained only through fear and by force, owing to the soldiery of the watch who are called tristes-à-patte by the crowd.  “This nick name enrages this species of militia, who then deal heavier blows around them, wounding indiscriminately all they encounter.  The low class is always ready to make war on them because it has never been fairly treated by them.”  In fact, “a squad of the guard often scatters, with no trouble, crowds of five or six hundred men, at first greatly excited, but melting away in the twinkling of an eye, after the soldiery have distributed a few blows and handcuffed two or three of the ringleaders.” — Nevertheless, “were the people of Paris abandoned to their true inclinations, did they not feel the horse and foot guards behind them, the commissary and policeman, there would be no limits to their disorder.  The populace, delivered from its customary restraint, would give itself up to violence of so cruel a stamp as not to know when to stop. . .  As long as white bread lasts,[51] the commotion will not prove general; the flour market[52] must interest itself in the matter, if the women are to remain tranquil. . .  Should white bread be wanting for two market days in succession, the uprising would be universal, and it is impossible to foresee the lengths this multitude at bay will go to in order to escape famine, they and their children.” -In 1789 white bread proves to be wanting throughout France.

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Notes: 

[1] Théron de Montaugé, 102, 113.  In the Toulousain ten parishes out of fifty have schools. — In Gascony, says the ass. prov. of Auch (p. 24), “most of the rural districts are without schoolmasters or parsonages.” — In 1778, the post between Paris and Toulouse runs only three times a week; that of Toulouse by way of Alby, Rodez, etc., twice a week; for Beaumont, Saint-Girons, etc., once a week.  “In the country,” says Théron de Montaugé, “one may be said to live in solitude and exile.”  In 1789 the Paris post reaches Besançon three times a week. (Arthur Young, I. 257).

[2] One of the Marquis de Mirabeau’s expressions.

[3] Archives nationales, G. 300, letter of an excise director at Coulommiers, Aug. 13, 1781.

[4] D’Argenson, VI. 425 (June 16, 1751).

[5] De Montlosier, I. 102, 146.

[6] Théron de Montaugé, 102.

[7] Monsieur Nicolas, I. 448.

[8] “Tableaux de la Révolution,” by Schmidt, II. 7 (report by the agent Perriere who lived in Auvergne.)

[9] Gouverneur Morris, II. 69, April 29, 1789.

[10] Mercier, “Tableau de Paris,” XII. 83.

[11] De Vaublanc, 209.

[12] Mandrin, (Louis) (Saint Étienne-de- Saint-Geoirs, Isère, 1724 - Valence, 1755).  French smuggler who, after 1750, was active over an enormous territory with the support of the population; hunted down by the army, caught, condemned to death to be broken alive on the wheel.  (Sr.)